Chapter III: Beyblade Conspiracy and the Demi-Beast
The sun was just barely over the horizon, and the morning sky was splashed with a soft shade of pink, purple and orange. Kai yawned as he slowly made his way downstairs, following the scent of the sweet aroma coming from the kitchen. He entered the dining room, and found that two of his fellow teammates, along with Rudy, were already seated at the table eating breakfast.
"Good morning, Kai," Tyson greeted, as he munched on some toast.
Kai responded with a nod, and took a seat next to Max. As he did so, Rudy glanced up from the newspaper he was reading, and frowned.
"Something wrong, Rudy?" Max asked.
Rudy rescanned the article and replied, "A bit-beast was stolen during a beyblade tournament in Australia. It says here that investigators have yet to find out who the culprit is. Apparently, whoever stole the bit- beast left no evidence whatsoever."
"What?!" exclaimed Tyson. "What kind of bit-beast was stolen?"
"Hmm, some bit-beast called Thundra. It was stolen from Davis Cloud."
Max's eyes went wide with shock. "Are you serious?! Davis Cloud is one heck of a blader! How could his bit-beast just get stolen like that?"
"Maybe that's the reason why his bit-beast was stolen," Kai suggested.
Rudy sighed. "Well, whatever the reason, B.B.A. investigators have no lead to go by. That's not a good thing."
"You're telling me," Tyson said. "Who knows? This guy might strike again."
Minutes later, Rudy left to go to work and everyone else was seated at the table eating breakfast, and discussing the day's events. Kristy and the other girls wanted to go shopping and sightseeing, since they had never actually been around London before. On the other hand, the Bladebreakers thought it was a good idea if they got some training in before the tournament. After much debate and opposition, both groups eventually came to an agreement and decided that Ami would take the girls shopping, while Eli would bring Kenny and the others to a training arena.
"So, it's settled then." Eli declared. "We'll all meet at the town square for lunch."
"Are you guys sure you don't want to come with us?" Silver asked.
Tyson groaned. "Are you kidding? After what happened the last time I went shopping with you?! I don't need to exercise for a whole 'nother lifetime!"
Meanwhile, Ami turned to Tyea and asked, "I take it you won't be joining us?"
Tyea gave a meek smile. "Sorry, Ami, but I've gotta-"
"I know, I know, train." Ami sighed. "So, how's that going anyway?"
"I don't know yet, but it's not easy. And with all the energy I'm using, I'm pretty much drained by the end of the day."
"Which is why you should take a break!"
Just as Tyea was about to respond, Leah called out, "Hey, you two, c'mon! We'll be leaving in a couple of minutes!"
Tyea sighed. "Maybe next time, Ami."
Although she opposed the idea, the young girl's best friend simply nodded in understanding. "Just take it easy, okay?"
Tyea chuckled. "Okay; I promise."
Each group finally went their separate ways. While Ami and the girls headed for town, Eli, Tyea and the rest of the Bladebreakers traveled along the roads of the outskirts of London. As Eli drove, Kenny sat beside him in the passenger's seat, talking about the Bladebreakers' previous tournament in Russia. Tyson, who had joined the conversation, bragged about his victory against Russia's best blader. In the back of the truck sat Kai, who overheard the conversation. He rolled his eyes critically at Tyson's exaggeration of his so-called victorious battle.
Kai's gaze suddenly fell upon Tyea, who sat quietly beside him examining her beyblade. Tyea's white and lavender beyblade had obviously been upgraded from the last time he saw it. He had never actually battled Tyea, but he saw her in a beyblade match, and she displayed a series of amazing blading skills. He also remembered her bit-beast, Zephyr. Zephyr was like no other bit-beast Kai had ever seen before, being that she was half human; a demi-beast, Tyea had called it.
At length, the truck finally came to a stop before a gated facility. The building, which covered quite a few acres of land, appeared to be some sort of research center. A fence surrounded the vicinity, as people in uniforms walked in and out of the building, walkie-talkies and clipboards in hand. Once Eli, Tyea and the Bladebreakers were permitted inside, they all headed into the building.
"What is this place, Eli?" Kenny asked, awed by the splendor of the research center.
"Remember how Tyea and I are part of the Bureau of Beyblade Investigations? Well, this is a branch of our research department, one of the biggest facilities we've got worldwide."
Kenny exclaimed, "Amazing!"
"I gotta admit, this place is pretty impressive," Tyson commented.
"Heh, pretty impressive?"
Just then, a teenage boy approached the group. He had long brown hair, which was tied into a braid, and dark brown eyes.
"Wait till you see the beyblade obstacle course we've got here," the boy stated.
"You guys, this is Ryo," introduced Eli. "Ryo these are the-"
"No need for intros, Eli. It's not like I don't know the all-famous Bladebreakers."
"Ryo is one of the B.B.I.'s best agents," Tyea explained.
Ryo smirked. "Second only to Tyea, though."
Although Tyea smiled at his comment, she glared playfully at the youth.
"So, what brings you guys here anyway?" Ryo asked.
"Eli said we could get some training done here," Max answered.
"Darn right you can! We've got some of the best equipment and training modules that can get you guys into tip-top shape for the tournament...uh, not that you need it or anything." He paused, and then turned to Eli and Tyea. "By the way, did you hear about what happened in Australia? About the stolen bit-beast?"
Tyea nodded. "How's the investigation going?"
"Nothing yet." Ryo shrugged. "What I can't understand is how that slimy thief was able to get away without leaving the slightest bit of evidence."
"He must have had some inside connections," Eli suggested.
"All the workers at the stadium were interrogated, and no one seemed to notice anything out of the ordinary." Ryo sighed. "Well, anyway, I'd better get going. Dean's thinking about having me fly over to Australia tonight, and check out the scene for myself." Before he left, he called to the Bladebreakers, "It was nice meeting you guys. Good luck on your tournament!"
At length, Ryo disappeared into the massive crowd of people rushing through the hallway. Eli then turned to the group and smiled.
"So, are you guys ready for some intense training?"
"You bet 'cha we are!" Max exclaimed.
Eli began to lead the team down the hall. Tyea, the other hand, turned the opposite direction until Ray's voice called out, "Hey, Tyea aren't you coming?"
The young girl turned and smiled sweetly. "Sorry, you guys, but I've got training of my own to do." She waved. "I'll see you later! Bye!"
Almost two hours had passed since the Bladebreakers initiated their training session. They were in a specialized room, which was equipped with obstacle courses, and virtual simulations. Kai and Ray had just finished their fifth round in the obstacle course, when commotion from across the room caught their attention.
They walked over to find Max engaged in an intense battle with a simulation blader. The hologram blader had nearly knocked Max's beyblade out of the dish, had the blond not evaded his attack. Sparks flew as both blades clashed upon each other. Sweat ran down Max's face as he carefully watched his opponent's blade.
"That guy's pretty good for a hologram," Kenny commented.
Eli nodded. "These holograms were designed to posses the skills of actual bladers. And the beyblades, in the same way, were designed to be able to respond to the hologram's command." Tyson frowned. "What's the point of a simulation blader when you can battle a real one?"
Eli chuckled. "Well, for one thing, these simulation bladers' skill level can be adjusted to be able to fit your level of proficiency. In that way, you can test your maximum ability and see where your limits are. And secondly, they, unlike other bladers, are available twenty-four seven, and you won't ever have to worry about them getting tired of battling or complaining when they lose."
Suddenly, the boys heard Max call out a command to Draciel, and within seconds the hologram's beyblade flew out of the dish and landed near Max's feet. He bent down and picked it up.
"Not bad," said Max.
"Not bad yourself," came a feminine voice.
The boys turned to see Ami and the other girls standing there giggling.
"Did you miss us?" Ami asked, as she strode up to Eli and kissed him on the cheek.
"Barely," Eli joked, as his girlfriend sent him a glare.
"I thought you girls went shopping," Ray said.
"We did," Leah replied. "Then we got bored and decided to come and see what you guys were up to."
"And it's almost lunchtime, anyway," Madison added.
At that note, Tyson's stomach gave a loud rumble. Tyson smiled sheepishly and said, "Maddy's right. I say we blow this Popsicle stand and get something to eat!"
When everyone agreed to Tyson's proposition, they all began to head out.
As they were walking down the hall, Kristy glanced around and asked, "Hey, where's Tyea?" "We're going to get her now," Eli replied, as he opened a door and walked inside.
The group entered a brightly lit room, full of computers and machinery. In the front of the room was a giant fiberglass window of some sort, and below that was a beyblade arena. Three men were carefully monitoring the computers, and below in the area, seemed to be two bladers engaged in a battle.
Eli walked up to one of the men. "Hi, Ron."
The older man glanced up and smiled. "Hey, Eli." He looked behind him and took notice of the company. "I see you brought some friends."
Eli smiled in response before asking, "So, how's she doing?"
"Well, pretty good right now. Everything looks stable, and there doesn't seem to be an increase in her heart rate. Her brain frequencies seem to be within normal range, too."
By now, the group was looking down below at the action in the arena. Two bladers, evidently competent, clashed their beyblades only to find that they we equal in strength. What was out of the ordinary was the fact that they wore white jumpsuits and computerized helmets.
"Is that Tyea down there?" Silver asked, taking notice of a girl with a sea green braid.
"Yup," answered Ami.
Beads of sweat began to form above Tyea's brow, as she took slow and even breaths. She watched her opponent's beyblade as it suddenly attempted to make an assault. Luckily, her beyblade had dodged the attack just in time, and spun around to make a quick retaliation. Just as she did though, Tyea's opponent called upon her bit-beast, which took her by surprise. The challenger's bit-beast, which appeared to be a giant, fiery salamander, made a swipe for Tyea's beyblade until she quickly evaded the attack. The battle between the two began to get intense. Clash upon clash, neither bladers seemed to want to back down.
The group in the control room watched in sheer awe and anxiety, wondering who would come out as the victor.
"I don't get it," Leah said. "Why doesn't Tyea call out her bit-beast?"
"'Cause it's not as easy as it looks," Kai replied.
Everyone turned to Kai for an explanation, when suddenly they heard Tyea call, "Zephyr, c'mon out!"
The center of Tyea's beyblade began to glow, and then a bright light flashed. The light gradually dimmed to reveal the shimmering figure of Tyea's human-like bit-beast. Zephyr had a slender body, with bright blue eyes and short silver hair. A silver mask covered her mouth, and had it not been for her enormous hawkish wings, and talon-like hands and feet, she would have appeared to be an average woman.
The group gasped at the sight before them. It was the first time they had ever witnessed a bit-beast with human qualities. Zephyr was beautiful, and yet had a rather ominous aura. "What in the world is that?!" Silver gasped.
"It's called a demi-beast, half bit-beast, half human," Ami explained. "Zephyr isn't exactly your normal, everyday bit-beast."
"A demi-beast?" repeated Kristy.
Eli nodded. "We still don't know enough about demi-beasts to be able to give a clear explanation about them; they're very rare. We only know of three other bladers who posses these kinds of bit-beasts. But, basically, because they're half human, they have a deeper connection with their master than regular bit-beasts do. When in battle, the blader and the demi-beast sort of become one in the mind and body."
Everyone was speechless as they averted their gaze back to the battle below. The salamander-like bit-beast had just unleashed a powerful flamethrower attack that barely missed Zephyr. As she dodged the attack, however, her opponent staged an uppercut blow, sending his scaly fist up her abdomen. At the same time, Tyea felt a sharp pain in her abdominal area; she winced as she strained to remain standing. Zephyr hunched over in pain, as Tyea's beyblade began to wobble unsteadily.
"It's looks like Tyea's hurt!" exclaimed Max. "What happened?"
"Oh, I get it!"
Everyone turned to Ray, who had come to a revelation. "Tyea and Zephyr are basically interconnected with each other. And so, whatever injury Zephyr receives during battle, Tyea can feel her pain, as well."
Eli nodded, and smiled at the observable youth. Kai, on the other hand, watched Tyea, as concern clouded his mahogany orbs. Suddenly, a sharp beeping started to sound from the machines. Eli and Ami ran over to Ron, who was frantically trying to read the analysis.
"Everything seems to be increasing, her heart rate, brain frequencies," Ron said, as he read over the computer monitor. "Her energy is rising. She's preparing for a full-scale attack."
"Will she be able to handle it?" Ami asked.
"I don't know. We'll just have to wait and see." Fearful doubt was evident in the man's voice. We can't go on much longer, thought Zephyr, as she shielded herself from another flamethrower. Mistress, we must finish this now!
"In that case, let's finish this with a Hurricane Gale, Zephyr! We're going all out!" Tyea replied.
Once the fiery blast diminished, Zephyr's large wings spread out and came over her like a cloak. She slowly started to spin, and within seconds, her spinning became faster and faster, creating a powerful wind that almost sent the dueling bladers off their feet. Zephyr, who almost seemed like a tornado, moved towards the challenger bit-beast. Although the fiery lizard tried to escape Zephyr's piercing wind attack, he could not overcome the attack's powerful, magnetic-like pull. Once the two bit-beasts clashed, there was an explosion and smoke filled the arena.
Tyea fell to her knees panting, while the other blader shielded her eyes; the group in the control room strained to see beyond the smoke that clouded the arena. The outcome of the battle was revealed when the haze finally cleared. Both beyblades had been knocked out of the dish.
Ron came over the P.A. and announced, "This battle has come to a draw. Good job, you two." Feeling light-headed, Tyea was still breathless as she removed her computerized helmet. She remained on her knees, deciding that she was still too weak to stand. Meanwhile, the other blader had removed her helmet as well, and bent down before Tyea, holding out her beyblade.
Tyea took her beyblade and smiled. "Thanks, Rhi. You were awesome back there, by the way."
The redhead smirked. "What can I say? There are only a handful of people who can match my skills and abilities."
Tyea rolled her eyes at her friend's ego.
Rhi chuckled. "Sorry about that last blow, though. I hope it didn't hurt too much. I told Blazer to ease up on his uppercuts."
"Ah, don't worry about it. If I'm ever going to get any stronger, I'm going to have to learn to resist the pain."
"You know, Tyea, instead of wearing yourself out in attempt to gain more energy, why don't you try to find a way to work with what you have? Try to conserve your energy, and use little by little during the battle."
Suddenly the doors to the arena slid open, and in walked Eli followed by the rest of the crew. Tyea slowly stood up, wobbling slightly as she did.
"Are you alright?" Ami asked.
Tyea shrugged. "I've been better." With that, the teenage girl yawned.
Worried, the others traded uncertain glances.
"Well," Tyea said. "I'm going to get freshened up. Do you guys mind waiting a couple of minutes?"
"Not at all," Eli replied. "Take your time. We'll just be in the lobby."
"Great! I won't take long."
As Tyea was walking out, exhaustion overwhelmed her, causing her to nearly trip and fall. Luckily, Kai had been there to catch her. Tyea looked up, and their gaze locked once again. Almost instantly her alertness returned, as the feel of Kai's arms around her just about had her melting into his embrace.
"Are you sure you'll be okay?" Kai asked quietly. "Do you need any help?"
Tyea shook her head and hastily replied, "No, I'm fine. Thanks, anyway."
She quickly walked out of the room, while trying to hide the blush that shaded her face. Kai just stood there, slightly disappointed. All the while, the group had been simply observing the scene that had just transpired.
Leah leaned over to Kristy and whispered, "That was rather interesting."
"What's that supposed to mean?!" Kristy snapped back.
Taken aback by Kristy's reaction, Leah held up her hands defensively. "Hey, all I'm saying is that I've never seen Kai warm up to anyone else but you. I didn't mean anything by it."
Kristy sighed. "I'm sorry, Leah. I kind of got a little defensive there for minute."
Leah smiled. "Don't worry about it, Kristy. I know where you're coming from."
"You gotta admit though," Silver added. "Maybe it's just me, but Kai and Tyea do seem pretty close."
"But, of course, I'm sure they're just good friends," reassured Madison, as the other girls agreed.
Nevertheless, Kristy couldn't help but frown at the thought of Kai and Tyea together. She gazed over at her boyfriend and wondered, if he and Tyea had a past relationship together, Kai would've told me right? Kristy shook her head, scolding herself for doubting his honesty in the first place. She simply sighed, and decided to dismiss the thought, knowing that it would bring nothing but problems if she ever mentioned it, especially to Kai.